Grain-binding machine.



(No Model.)

' Patented Jan. 7, I902. M. KANE. GRAIN BINDING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 7, 1900.)

2 sums-sheet I.

IIIIIIIIIII-IIIIINIIII H I No. 690,439. Patented Ian. 7,1902.

M. KANE. GRAIN BINDING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 7, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

n: uumns Paths co mmplun'm, msmunmu o r UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE.

MAURICE KANE, OF AUSTIN, ILLINOIS.

GRAIN-BINDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,439, dated January7, 1902.

Application filed July 7, 1900. Serial No. 22,792. (No model.)

to render the same m ore efficient-in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide means wherebythesprocket or other chain employed for positively driving the elevatorand feed aprons may be placed below the line of travel of thecarrying-surface of said elevators.

A further object of the invention is to provide an end-gate or door forthe space occupied by the elevator carriers or belts, whereby such spacemay be shortened or closed to accommodate short grain and may be openedand extended to accommodate long grain.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination,location, and arrangement, all as will be more fully hereinafter setforth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out inthe ap pended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views andreference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of aportion of a grain-binding machine, showing the application thereto ofthe constructions embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is abroken detail View in section, showing the friction-drive for theforce-feed roller. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a form of frictionclamp-nut. Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation, taken from the right-handside of Fig. 1 and showing the U-shaped frame. Fig. 5' is a detacheddetail broken view showing the manner of supporting the elevator-frameupon the U-shaped bar.

In the construction of grain-binders it is exceedingly desirable tosecure such a width of elevator-carriers or traveling belts as will beoccupied by the length of the grain to be harvested. In some cases shortstalks of grain are harvested and in other cases grain of greater lengthis required to be harvested, and where a comparatively narrow width oftraveling carrier is employed for the elevators which operate to elevatethe grain from the lower platform to the deck of the grainbindingmechanism it is difficult to efficiently feed grain which is of unusuallength. In order to secure the desired width of traveling carrier forthe elevators and in a construction which will permit of being closed upwhen short grain is being harvested and to be opened out or extendedwhen long grain is to be harvested is one of the purposes of myinvention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

reference-signA-designates a traction or master wheel of a grain bindingmachine, and B a portion of the main frame of such machine, upon whichthe various parts of the apparatus are supported. A portion of the mainframe of the machine comprises a rod or bar 0, formed into substantiallyU shape and the ends thereof extending horizontally lengthwise of themachine. Upon the upper horizontal leg of this supporting-bar issupported the rear edge of the frame D, which I willhereinafterdesignate the upper-elevator frame, as clearly shown at E.Suitably journaled at the lower end of the upper-elevator frame D is aroller, (indicated in dotted lines at F,) and at the upper end of saidupper-elevator frame are supported the guide-rollers G H. About theserollers F G H the upper elevator J opcrates, and the guide-rollers G Hare so disposed with reference to'each other and to the other parts ofthe machine as to cause the lower leg or run of the upper elevatorJ tobe broughtinto close relation with the upper surface of thelower-elevator apron, as clearly indicated in dotted lines and as willpresently be more fully explained. At its front edge the upper-elevatorframe D is supported upon the machine-frame in the usual or anyconvenient manner, the upper horizontal leg or member of the U-shapedframe 0 affording support for said frame D at its rear edge, as clearlyshown.

Reference-sign K designates the frame of the lower-elevator apron, thelatter being indicated in dotted lines at L. In the lower end of frame Kis journaled a roller, (indicated in dotted lines at M,) and in theupper end of said frame K is journaled a cooperating roller, (indicatedat N.) Over these rollers the lower-elevator apron L operates in theusual manner, the runs or legs between said rollers of said lower apronbeing parallel with each other. As above described, the guiderollers G Hat the upper end of the frame which supports the upper-elevator apronare so disposed with reference to each other as to cause the lower legor run of said upper apron to approach the top surface of the upper legor run of the lower apron toward the upper end of said apron, therebyproviding a considerable throat or space (indicated at O) at the lowerend of said aprons,which throat or space contracts in area toward theupper or delivery ends of said aprons. By reason of this constructionand arrangement the aprons are enabled to effect an efficient grasp ofthe grain between them and which gripping action increases toward theupper or delivery ends of the elevator aprons. In machines of this classas heretofore constructed the sprocket or other chain through which thelower-elevator apron is positively actuated has been arranged to engageover gears mounted directly upon the shafts of said rollers M N. Theresult of this construction and arrangement has been to cause that legor portion of the drive-sprocket which extends between said rollers M Nto be elevated substantially into the plane of the upper surface of theupper leg 'or run of the lower apron or even above such surface. This isobjectionable for the reason that when long grain is being harvested theheads thereof may frequently project beyond the rear edge of theelevator-aprons, and thereby become entangled or engaged in theoperating sprocket-chain. This objection is most frequently encounteredwith long grain. In orderto overcome this objection and to provide aconstruction and arrangement whereby the lower-elevator apron may bepositively actuated, but at the same time whereby the operatingsprocket-chain will be carried or depressed below the upper surface ofthe lower-elevator apron, thereby removing such chain from positivecontact with the heads of long grains, and at the same time to enablethe space between the frames of the upper and lower elevator aprons tobe extended in width when exceptionally long grain is being harvested,instead of having the driving sprocket-chain P operate over sprockets onone or the other, or both, of the rollers over which the lower-elevatorapron operates I arrange a gear Q on the shaft of one of said rollers tobe engaged and driven by a pinion or idler R, which pinion or idler isdriven by a gear S, connected to rotate with asprocket T, over which thesprocket-chain P operates. The objection above noted in constructions ofthe ordinary type of machines as heretofore made of the drivingsprocket-chain being elevated above the surface of the upper ply or legof the lower apron is particularly present when the same chain isemployed to positively actuate the roller over which the lower platformU is mounted. This is due to the fact that said roller (indicated indotted lines at V) must necessarily be placed on the grainward side ofthe lower roller M, over which the lower-elevator apron operates.Therefore in those constructions where the sprocket chain 1? operatesover the upper roller N and from thence extends to the roller V of theapron U of the lower platform said chain enters the space between theupper and lower elevator aprons, and hence offers a material obstructionto the proper elevation of very long grain. In my construction, wherebythis objection is avoided, I arrange the driving sprocket-chain P afterpassing over the sprocket T to pass around a sprocket W, havingconnected thereto to rotate therewith a pinion A, arranged to mesh withand to drive an intermediate idler-pinion B, which in turn meshes withand drives a pinion O on the shaft of. roller V. By this construction Iam enabled to so place the stud or axis upon which the sprocket W isdriven as to cause the leg or run of driving-chain P, which extendsbetween said sprocket W and sprocket T, to operate entirely below thesurface of the upper run or leg of the lower-elevator apron, while atthe same time securing a positive drive for said lower-elevator apronand for the traveling carrier or apron U of the lower platform, and byemploying the intermediate idlers R B the desired direction of rotationof the rollers N and V is secured, as clearlyindicated by the arrows.

By'the arrangement above described I am also enabled to provide meansfor extending the width of the space between the upper and lowerelevator aprons, and this result I secure by hinging an end-gate orplate D along one edge thereof to the frame K, which supports thelower-elevator apron. This end-gate or hinged plate may be rocked orswung into raised position and held in that position by any suitablemeans, as by means of pivoted fingers E, carried by the rear edge offrame D, which supports the upper-elevator apron, and when desired saidend-gate or plate D may be bolted down, so as to form an extended shelfor support for the heads of very long grain when occasion requires. Bysupporting the frame D of the upper-elevator apron, as at E, upon theupper leg or horizontal member of the U-shaped frame 0 said end-gate orplate D is not required or called upon to support any of the weight ofthe upper-elevator frame, but merely folds up against the rear edge ofsuch frame, where it is suitably held to form a closed way in which theelevator-aprons operate when short grain is beingharvested. Theprovision of the U-shaped frame 0 enables said plate or end-gate D to berocked or lowered, as required, for the accommodation of long grain.

I have above described the lead of the op- IIO erating sprocket chain Pto be around a sprocket T. In practice I arrange this sprocket upon theshaft of a roller E, which is located slightly above and to one side ofthe upper ger of breakage of the driving sprocket-chain P or of some ofthe gears or pinions actuated thereby is incurred. In order to avoidthis objection, I propose to drive the force-feed roller E frictionally.To this end I provide said roller with a gudgeon G, forming a journaltherefor, and which is received through a suitable bearing formed in theupper end of the frame K of the lower-elevator apron or other suitablepart of the framework. Upon this gudgeon I form or otherwise suitablysecure a shoulder H, and I arrange the casting of sprocket T and pinionS to be received upon the projecting end of the gudgeon G and to bearagainst the surface of shoulder I'I thereon, and said casting may befrictionally clamped against the surface of said shoulder by means of aclamp-nut J, mounted upon the threaded end of gudgeon G. Thus by turningup or backing off of the clampnut the degree of clamping friction of thecasting of said sprocket and pinion upon gudgeon G may be increased ordiminished,as desired, to secure the desired result. The frictionclamping-nut J may be held in any suitable manner in its adjustedpositionas, for instance, and by way of illustration, by pro- Viding theflange thereof with a series of openings, (indicated at K,) throughwhich a pin L may be passed and inserted in a slot or seat in the end ofgudgeon G.

Of course it will be understood that in turning up or backing offclamping-nut J it must be turned up or backed off sufficiently to enablethe pin L to be passed through one of the series of openings K and to beinserted into the slot or seat in the end of gudgeon G, and to this endsaid nut J is provided with a large number of such openings K, so thatonly a slight rotative movement of nut J is necessary to bring the slotor seat in gudgeon G and an opening in said nut J into registeringrelation to receive the pin L.

From this construction it will be seen that the force-feed roller isdriven frictionally, and hence in case of any obstruction beinginterposed to retard or prevent the rotation of such roller and ofsufficient force to overcome the frictional engagement of the sprocketand pinion casting therewith said roller will be held against rotationuntil the obstruction is removed; but the machine and the other partsthereof which are actuated by the sprocket-chain P may continue tooperate in their usual and ordinary manner and without danger ofbreakage of the parts. The driving sprocket-chain P may be driven fromanysuitable source of power and in the ordinary manner, as will bereadily comprehended by persons skilled in the art.

It is obvious that many variations and alterations in the details ofconstruction and arrangement would readily suggest themselves to personsskilled in'the art and still fall within the spirit and scope of myinvention. I do not desire, therefore, to be limited to the exactdetails of construction shown and described; but,

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and aconstruction embodying the principles thereof,what I claim as new anduseful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is- 1. In agrain-binder,a main frame,an upperelevator frame and alower-elevator frame, elevator-aprons operating on said f rames,saidupper-elevator frame supported at one end by said main frame, means forsupporting the other end of said upper-elevator frame, and a door orplate independent of'the supporting means for said upper-elevator frameand hinged to the lower-elevator frame and arranged to inclose the spacebetween said upper and lower elevator frames, or to be folded down toform an extension, and a sprocketchain for actuating the apron of saidlower frame, said chain being located below said door or plate, as andfor the purpose set forth. 2. In a grain-binder, a main frame includinga longitudinally-extending beam, an upper-elevator frame supported uponsaid main frame at its front edge and supported by said beam at its rearedge, a lower-elevator frame supported upon the main frame, apronsoperating upon said elevator-frames and a section or plate hinged to thelower elevator frame and adapted when folded down to form an extensionof the supporting-surface of such frame, and when swung up against therear edge of the upper-elevator frame, to form an inclosure for thespace between said upper and lower elevator frames, and a sprocketchainfor actuating the apron of said lower frame, said chain being locatedbelow said section or plate, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a grain-binder, a platform-carrier, an

actuating-roller therefor, a drive-gear engag- 4. In a grain-binder, anupper elevator, a lower elevator, an extension hinged to said lowerelevator, a platform-carrier arranged to deliver into the space betweensaid elevators, actuating-rollers for said carrier and lower elevator, atrain of gearing fordriving the actuating-roller of said carrier, and adriving-sprocket for actuating said train of gearing and the roller ofthe lower-elevator apron, said sprocket arranged below the space betweensaid upper and lower elevators to accommodate said extension when thelatter is folded down, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a grain-binder, a platform-apron, an elevator to which said aprondelivers, said elevator provided with a hinged extension-plate,actuating-rollers for said apron and elevator, in combination with aforce-feed roller arranged at the delivery end of said elevator, a geararranged adjacent to the delivery end of said apron, a driving-chainengaging with said force-feed roller and over said gear, andintermediate gearing between said force-feed roller and theactuating-roller of said elevator for actuating the latter, and gearingintermediate said gear and the actuating-roller of said apron foractuating said apron whereby the sprocket-chain normally lies beneaththe effective surface of the elevator and out of the way of said platewhen folded down to form an extension, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination with a platform-carrier

